TECHNICAL DATA SHEET GRILAMID TR ICR 12 LS NATURAL General product description Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural is a transpar- ent thermoplastic polyamide based on ali- phatic and cycloaliphatic blocks. Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural contains mi- cro-crystalline structures which combine the properties of semi-crystalline and amorphous polyamides. Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural contains a processing aid for easier demoulding of parts with high demoulding path, complicated part design, undercuts or hot cores Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural offers out- standing properties such as: · Excellent fatigue strength · Ductile bursting pressure · High notched impact strength even at low temperatures · High transparency and surface gloss · Excellent chemical and stress crack resistance (non polar solvents) · Improved stress crack resistance against alcohols · Good hydrolysis resistance in warm water · High UV-resistance Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural is especially suited for injection moulded outdoor applica- tions in the application fields of: - Sanitary / Heating - Electrical / Electronics - Medicine / Personal protection - Engineering / Agriculture - Domestic / Kitchen appliances PROPERTIES Mechanical Properties Standard Unit State TR ICR 12 LS nat. Tensile E-Modulus 1 mm/min ISO 527 MPa cond. 1400 Tensile strength at yield 50 mm/min ISO 527 MPa cond. 60 Elongation at yield 50 mm/min ISO 527 % cond. 7 Tensile strength at break 50 mm/min ISO 527 MPa cond. 55 Elongation at break 50 mm/min ISO 527 % cond. > 50 Impact strength Charpy, 23°C ISO 179/2-1eU kJ/m² cond. no break Impact strength Charpy, -30°C ISO 179/2-1eU kJ/m² cond. no break Notched impact strength Charpy, 23°C ISO 179/2-1eA kJ/m² cond. 15 Notched impact strength Charpy, -30°C ISO 179/2-1eA kJ/m² cond. 13 Shore hardness D ISO 868 - cond. 82 Ball indentation hardness ISO 2039-1 MPa cond. 90 Thermal Properties Glass transition temperature DSC ISO 11357 °C dry 145 Heat deflection temperature HDT/A 1.80 MPa ISO 75 °C dry 105 Heat deflection temperature HDT/B 0.45 MPa ISO 75 °C dry 120 Thermal expansion coefficient long. 23-55°C ISO 11359 10-4/K dry 1.0 Thermal expansion coefficient trans. 23-55°C ISO 11359 10-4/K dry 1.0 Maximum usage temperature long term ISO 2578 °C dry 80 Maximum usage temperature short term ISO 2578 °C dry 100 Electrical Properties Dielectric strength IEC 60243-1 kV/mm cond. 32 Comparative tracking index CTI IEC 60112 - cond. 600 Specific volume resistivity IEC 60093 W · m cond. 1010 Specific surface resistivity IEC 60093 W cond. 1011 General Properties Density ISO 1183 g/cm³ dry 1.02 Flammability (UL94) 0.8 mm ISO 1210 rating - HB Water absorption 23°C/sat. ISO 62 % - 3.0 Moisture absorption 23°C/50% r.h. ISO 62 % - 1.5 Linear mould shrinkage long. ISO 294 % dry 0.65 Linear mould shrinkage trans. ISO 294 % dry 0.70 Product-nomenclature acc. ISO 1874: PA MACM12/X, GT,14-020 2 Processing information for the injection moulding of Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS nat. This technical data sheet for Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS strong foaming, unusually easy flow, streaks or a natural provides you with useful information on ma- rough surface on the moulded part, then the maxi- terial preparation, machine requirements, tooling mum drying time is required. and processing. Silver streaks can also be caused by overheating of the material (over 320°C) MATERIAL PREPARATION ! Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural is delivered dry and or by too long melt residence time in the ready for processing in sealed, air tight packaging. barrel. Predrying is not necessary provided the packaging is undamaged. Drying temperature Polyamides are affected by oxidation at tempera- Storage tures above 80°C in the presence of oxygen. Visible Amorphous polyamides can be stored over years yellowing of the material is an indication of oxida- without negatively influencing it’s mechanical prop- tion. Hence, temperatures above 80°C for desiccant erties. However, in order to ensure optimal colour dryers and temperatures above 100°C for vacuum and transparency, Grilamid should not be stored for ovens should be avoided. In order to detect oxida- more then 6 months. At temperatures above 25°C tion it is advised to keep a small amount of granu- in combination with long storage times, the oxida- late (light colours only!) as a comparison sample. tion process of the granulate is accelerated. Hence, it is advised to keep storage temperatures below For processing without any problem of humidity we 25°C. The above mentioned effect becomes only recommend to use always a desiccant dryer. visible after injection moulding and shows itself in parts which have a more yellow appearance. Stor- Use of regrind age facilities must be dry and protect the bags from Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural is a thermoplastic the influence of weather and damage. material. Hence, incomplete mouldings as well as sprue and Handling and safety runner can be reprocessed. The following points Detailed information can be obtained from the “Ma- have to be observed: terial Safety Data Sheet” (MSDS) which can be requested with every material order. § No thermal degradation in the previous process- ing Drying § No contamination through foreign material, dust, Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural is dried and packed oil, etc. with a moisture content of less than 0.08 %. Should § Regrind has to be dry and dust-free the packaging become damaged or be left open too long, then the material must be dried. Too high When adding regrind, special care has to be taken moisture content can be shown by a foaming melt, by the moulder. For high-quality technical parts only excessive nozzle drool and silver streaks on the virgin material has to be used. moulded part. Drying can be done as follows: MACHINE REQUIREMENTS Grilamid TR ICR 12 LS natural can be processed Desiccant dryer economically and without problems on all machines Temperature: max. 80°C suitable for polyamides. Time: 4 - 12 hours Dew point of the dryer: < -30°C Screw Wear protected, universal screws with non-return Vacuum oven valve are recommended (3 zones). Temperature: max. 100°C Length: 18 - 25 D Time: 4 - 10 hours Compression ratio: 2 - 2.5 Circulating air drying ovens are not suitable for Shot volume Grilamid TR. To review / monitor the effective The minimal metering stroke (without screw retrac- moisture content it is recommended to use a mois- tion) must be longer than the length of the non- ture measuring device (eg Aboni or Aquatrac). return-valve. Drying time Selecting the injection unit If there is only little evidence of foaming of the melt or just slight silver streaks on the part, then the Shot volume = 0.5 - 0.9 x above mentioned minimal drying time will be suffi- (max. shot volume of injection unit) cient. If material is stored open for days, shows 3 Heating PROCESSING At least three separately controllable heating zones, capable of reaching cylinder temperatures Basic machine settings up to 350°C. Separate nozzle heating is neces- In order to start up the machine for processing Gri- sary. The cylinder flange temperature must be lamid TR ICR 12 LS natural, the following basic controllable (flange, intake). settings are recommended: Nozzle Temperatures Open nozzles with accurate heating are to prefer. There is however the danger that during screw Flange (Intake) min. 60°C retraction after metering air maybe drawn into the Feeding section 250 - 270°C barrel. If shut-off nozzles are used high frictional Compression section 260 - 280°C heat and pressure loss have to be avoided. Axial Metering section 270 - 290°C sliding shut-off nozzles are not suitable. Nozzle 270 - 290°C Mould 60 - 80°C Clamping force Melt 280 - 300°C As a rule of thumb the clamping force can be esti- mated using the following formula: Holding pressures / Metering Clamping force Holding pressure (spec.) 400 - 600 bar 1) 2 Dynamic pressure (spec.) 50 - 150 bar 7.5 kN x projected area (cm ) Screw speed 0.05 - 0.3 m/s 1) for a cavity pressure of 750 bar The injection speed should be reduced towards the TOOLING end of the filling cycle in order to avoid burning. For The design of the mould tool should follow the dosing the cooling time should be maximal utilised. general rules for transparent thermoplastics. For the selection of tool steel high tool and melt Color neutralizer temperature have to be considered. For the mould To neutralize the inherent material colour, the mas- cavities common tool steel quality (e.g. hardened terbatch Grilamid MB TR 90 blue 4545 can be used steel) which has been hardened to a level of 56 (blend ratio = 2 - 4%) HRC is recommended. The masterbatch has no significant influence on the Venting mechanical properties and have no negative effect In order to prevent burning marks at the end of on the transparency even at high wall thickness filling and at positions of weld lines, proper venting when used at the recommended blend ratio. of the mould cavity is important. For venting not in mould parting surface additional ejector pins should be provided (0.02 mm). CUSTOMER SERVICES EMS-GRIVORY is a specialist in polyamide synthe- Gate and runner sis and the processing of these materials. Our cus- To achieve the best mould filling and avoid sink tomer services are not only concerned with the marks, a central gate at the thickest section of the manufacturing and supply of engineering thermo- moulding is recommended. Pin point (direct) or plastics but also provide full technical support: tunnel gates are more economical and more com- · Rheological design calculation / FEA mon with technical moulding.